Locomotive attachment



(No Model.) I

G. H. RUSSELL. LOGOMOTIVB ATTACHMENT.

No. 505,851. Patented Oct. 3, 1893.

g6 yw 2- UNITED STAT-Es ATENT Grrrcn.

GEORGE HENRY RUSSELL, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOCOMOTIVE ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,851, dated October 3,1893.

Application filed November 23, 1892. Serial No.452,939. (No model.)

T on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HENRY RUS- SELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsfield, in the county of Berkshire, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive Attachments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in railroad signals and more particularly to devices for sounding an alarm as the Whistle when a train approaches a crossing, and it has for its objects among others to provide a simple and cheap mechanism which can be readily attached to any locomotive and which will cause the whistle to sound whenever the train reaches the crossing or other place where the elevation is located to operate the mechanism. The mechanism is of the simplest character, composed of but few parts, not liable to get out of order and positive and reliable in their action. They comprise a lever pivoted at any desired point and carrying at one end a wheel adapted to travel normally suspended but when the crossing is approached this wheel is designed to contact with an elevation arranged for the purpose which will elevate that end of the lever and consequently depress the other end which is connected by suitable devices with the whistle and thus sound an alarm. The lever is supported between its pivot and the end carrying the wheel in a bracket or support which prevents its dropping beyond a predetermined point and yet allowing of sufficient freedom of movement to insure the best results.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a locomotive showing my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lever, the wheel, the bracket and the elevated rail upon which the wheel is designed to travel.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in both of the views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a locomotive of known construction except as hereinafter specified. The improvements hereinafter specified are designed to be applied to the locomotive without change in the construction of the same and can be applied readily.

B is the lever having a horizontal portion b and a downwardly and forwardly inclined portion b as shown. This lever is pivoted at the junction of the horizontal and inclined portions as seen at a in Fig. 1,to some fixed part of the locomotive, and the inclined portion passes through a vertically-elongated opening a in a bracket O which has the flanges 0' through which pass suitable means to secure it in a vertical position as seen in Fig. 1, and the main portion of this bracket is arranged at an angle rearward as seen in Fig. 1 so that the walls of the opening therein will be parallel with the sides of the inclined portion of the lever so as to prevent binding and permit of free movement of the lever.

The lower end of the inclined portion of the lever is provided'with a partial housing or cap D having depending lugs or cars d in which is journaled the axle E carrying the grooved wheel E as seen in Fig. 2. This cap is preferably integral with the lever as seen in Fig. 2. It serves to protect the wheel and the cars from bearings for the axle. The other end of the lever has pivotally connected therewith as at f the lower end of the vertical rod F the upper end of which is pivotally connected as at g with one end of the lever H which is pivoted between its ends as at h to an arm or support- G on the locomotive and the other end connected with the whistle valve in the usual manner so that when the said valve is open the whistle will be sounded.

At the approach to the crossing, or at any other place where it is desired to sound an alarm, I place a short rail I which may be of any desired length and having its approach end tapered as seen at 2' in Fig. 2.

J is a cord attached to the upper end of the rod F as seen in Fig. 1 so that the whistle may be operated in the usual manner by the engineer in the cab.

Normally the wheel hangs pendent and the portion b of the lever is slightly inclined; when the train approaches the elevated rail or contact I the said wheel rides up the inclined end thereof and in so doing elevates or raises the wheel-end and consequently depressing the other end, this pulls upon the rod F and moves the lever H on its pivot and sounds the whistle; as soon as the wheel passes from the elevated rail it drops to its normal position and the other end of the lever is pushed up and closes the valve. The length of time of the alarm will be governed by the length of the elevation I and the speed of the train. The inclined main portion of the bracket with its slot serves to prevent the inclined portion of the lever from dropping too far and holds it in the proper position While permit-tin g the free necessary movements thereof.

What I claim as new is 1. The combination with a pivoted lever having an inclined portion forward of its pivot and a horizontal portion to the rear thereof, of the bracket having rearwardly inclined portion with slot loosely embracing the inclined portion of the lever and with oppositely extending lugs by which it is secured in position, of a wheel journaled in the free end of the inclined portion of the lever, the whistle operating devices and pivotal connections between the same and the horizontal portion of the lever, substantially as and. for the purpose specified. v

2. The combination with the pivoted lever having the horizontal portion and a downwardly and forwardly inclined portion with its pivot located atthe junction of said portions of a wheel jonrnaled in the lower end of the inclined portion, the Whistle operating devices, a rod pivotally connected therewith and with the end of the horizontal portion of the lever and a bracket having lugs by which it is secured in position and having a rearwardly and downwardly inclined portion with slot embracing the inclined portion of the lever between its pivot and the free end and through which slot said lever is free to play loosely, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signaturein presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE HENRY RUSSELL.

Witnesses:

E. M. WOOD, GEO. A. PREDIGER. 

